Langer leads Montgomerie by 3 at Insperity Invitational

By Dale Robertson |
May 3, 2014
| Updated: May 3, 2014 9:50pm

THE WOODLANDS, TX - MAY 03: Bernhard Langer of Germany watches his tee shot on the 17th hole during the second round of the Insperity Invitational at the Tournament Course at the Woodlands Country Club on May 3, 2014 in The Woodlands, Texas.

Photo By Eric Christian Smith/For the Chronicle

Tournament leader Bernhard Langer acknowledges the gallery on No. 18 after finishing his round with a par during the second round of the Insperity Championship, Saturday, May 3, 2014, at The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course in The Woodlands.

Photo By Eric Christian Smith/For the Chronicle

Gary Player watches California Chrome win the 140th Kentucky Derby on No. 18 during the Greats of Golf competition at the Insperity Championship, Saturday, May 3, 2014, at The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course in The Woodlands.

Photo By Eric Christian Smith/For the Chronicle

Jack Nicklaus, left, Tony Jacklin, center, and Lee Trevino laugh on the No. 18 green during the Greats of Golf competition at the Insperity Championship, Saturday, May 3, 2014, at The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course in The Woodlands.

Photo By Eric Christian Smith/For the Chronicle

Gary Player, right, reacts to playing partner Jack Nicklaus after missing a birdie putt on No. 18 during the Greats of Golf competition at the Insperity Championship, Saturday, May 3, 2014, at The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course in The Woodlands.

Photo By Eric Christian Smith/For the Chronicle

Ray Floyd, right, shares a laugh on No. 18 with playing partner Don January, center, as David Graham looks on during the Greats of Golf competition at the Insperity Championship, Saturday, May 3, 2014, at The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course in The Woodlands.

Photo By Eric Christian Smith/For the Chronicle

Ray Floys acknowledges the gallery after making birdie on No. 18 during the Greats of Golf competition at the Insperity Championship, Saturday, May 3, 2014, at The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course in The Woodlands.

Photo By Eric Christian Smith/For the Chronicle

Playing partners Dave Stockton, left, Tony Jacklin, center, and Johnny Miller walk off the No. 18 green after completing their round during the Greats of Golf competition at the Insperity Championship, Saturday, May 3, 2014, at The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course in The Woodlands.

Photo By Eric Christian Smith/For the Chronicle

Bernhard Langer follows through on his tee shot on No. 17 during the second round of the Insperity Championship, Saturday, May 3, 2014, at The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course in The Woodlands.

Photo By Eric Christian Smith/For the Chronicle

Bernhard Langer walks past a sign symbolizing making cancer history on No. 16 during the second round of the Insperity Championship, Saturday, May 3, 2014, at The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course in The Woodlands.

Photo By Eric Christian Smith/For the Chronicle

Second round leader Bernhard Langer watches his approach shot on No. 15 during the second round of the Insperity Championship, Saturday, May 3, 2014, at The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course in The Woodlands.

Photo By Eric Christian Smith/For the Chronicle

An Egyptian Goose walks the No. 13 fairway during the second round of the Insperity Championship, Saturday, May 3, 2014, at The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course in The Woodlands.

Photo By Eric Christian Smith/For the Chronicle

Bart Bryant hits out of a fairway bunker on No. 13 during the second round of the Insperity Championship, Saturday, May 3, 2014, at The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course in The Woodlands.

Photo By Eric Christian Smith/For the Chronicle

Defending champion Esteban Toledo eyes his approach shot on No. 12 during the second round of the Insperity Championship, Saturday, May 3, 2014, at The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course in The Woodlands.

Photo By Eric Christian Smith/For the Chronicle

Gary Player, right, shakes hands with President George H.W. Bush on the practice tee before the Greats of Golf competition at the Insperity Championship, Saturday, May 3, 2014, at The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course in The Woodlands.

Photo By Eric Christian Smith/For the Chronicle

Gary Player, right, shows President George H.W. Bush his golf club on the practice tee before the Greats of Golf competition at the Insperity Championship, Saturday, May 3, 2014, at The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course in The Woodlands.

Photo By Eric Christian Smith/For the Chronicle

Jack Nicklaus follow through on his tee shot on No. 5 during the Greats of Golf competition at the Insperity Championship, Saturday, May 3, 2014, at The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course in The Woodlands.

Photo By Eric Christian Smith/For the Chronicle

Lee Trevino follows through on his tee shot on No. 5 during the Greats of Golf competition at the Insperity Championship, Saturday, May 3, 2014, at The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course in The Woodlands.

Photo By Eric Christian Smith/For the Chronicle

Gary Player, left, fist bumps playing partner Jack Nicklaus after Player made birdie on No. 3 during the Greats of Golf competition at the Insperity Championship, Saturday, May 3, 2014, at The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course in The Woodlands.

Photo By Eric Christian Smith/For the Chronicle

Jack Nicklaus celebrates his birdie on No.2 during the Greats of Golf competition at the Insperity Championship, Saturday, May 3, 2014, at The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course in The Woodlands.

Photo By Eric Christian Smith/For the Chronicle

Lee Trevino, right, putts for birdie as playing partners Gary Player, left, and Jack Nicklaus look on during the Greats of Golf competition at the Insperity Championship, Saturday, May 3, 2014, at The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course in The Woodlands.

Photo By Eric Christian Smith/For the Chronicle

Tony Jacklin, right, fist bumps playing partner Dave Stockton on No. 18 during the Greats of Golf competition at the Insperity Championship, Saturday, May 3, 2014, at The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course in The Woodlands.

Photo By Eric Christian Smith/For the Chronicle

Bart Bryant eyes his tee shot on No. 17 during the second round of the Insperity Championship, Saturday, May 3, 2014, at The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course in The Woodlands.

Photo By Eric Christian Smith/For the Chronicle

Defending champion Esteban Toledo celebrates his birdie on No. 16 during the second round of the Insperity Championship, Saturday, May 3, 2014, at The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course in The Woodlands.

Photo By Eric Christian Smith/For the Chronicle

Bart Bryant watches his birdie putt miss the cup on No. 14 during the second round of the Insperity Championship, Saturday, May 3, 2014, at The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course in The Woodlands.

Photo By Eric Christian Smith/For the Chronicle

Gary Player follows through on his tee shot on No. 5 during the Greats of Golf competition at the Insperity Championship, Saturday, May 3, 2014, at The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course in The Woodlands.

Photo By Eric Christian Smith/Freelance

The Greats of Golf competition was full of laughs for players such as Jack Nicklaus, from left, Tony Jacklin and Lee Trevino on Saturday at the Insperity Invitational at The Woodlands Country Club.

Photo By Eric Christian Smith/For the Chronicle

Jack Nicklaus celebrates his 45-foot putt for eagle on No. 1 during the Greats of Golf competition at the Insperity Championship, Friday, May 2, 2014, at The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course in The Woodlands.

Photo By Eric Christian Smith/For the Chronicle

Lee Trevino pulls his ball out of a bunker on No.1 during the Greats of Golf competition at the Insperity Championship, Friday, May 2, 2014, at The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course in The Woodlands.

Photo By Eric Christian Smith/For the Chronicle

Jack Nicklaus follows his tee shot on No.1 during the Greats of Golf competition at the Insperity Championship, Friday, May 2, 2014, at The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course in The Woodlands.

Photo By Eric Christian Smith/For the Chronicle

Jeff Maggert blasts out of a bunker on No. 9 during the second round of the Insperity Championship, Friday, May 2, 2014, at The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course in The Woodlands.

Photo By Eric Christian Smith/For the Chronicle

Gary Player laughs on the No. 1 tee box during the Greats of Golf competition at the Insperity Championship, Friday, May 2, 2014, at The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course in The Woodlands.

Photo By Eric Christian Smith/For the Chronicle

Lee Trevino tees off on No.1 during the Greats of Golf competition at the Insperity Championship, Friday, May 2, 2014, at The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course in The Woodlands.

Photo By Eric Christian Smith/For the Chronicle

Jack Nicklaus signs autographs before the Greats of Golf competition at the Insperity Championship, Friday, May 2, 2014, at The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course in The Woodlands.

Photo By Eric Christian Smith/For the Chronicle

Jack Nicklaus, right, celebrates his 45-foot eagle putt on No. 1 with playing partners Gary Player, left, and Lee Trevino during the Greats of Golf competition at the Insperity Championship, Friday, May 2, 2014, at The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course in The Woodlands.

Photo By Eric Christian Smith/For the Chronicle

Gary Player tees off on No.1 during the Greats of Golf competition at the Insperity Championship, Friday, May 2, 2014, at The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course in The Woodlands.

Photo By Eric Christian Smith/For the Chronicle

First round co-leader Bernahrd Langer, left, jokes with playing partner Craig Stadler on the No. 18 green during the first round of the Insperity Championship, Friday, May 2, 2014, at The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course in The Woodlands.

Photo By Eric Christian Smith/For the Chronicle

First round co-leader Bernhard Langer acknowledges the gallery after his birdie on No. 18 during the first round of the Insperity Championship, Friday, May 2, 2014, at The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course in The Woodlands.

Photo By Eric Christian Smith/For the Chronicle

First round co-leader Bernhard Langer acknowledges the gallery after making birdie on No. 18 during the first round of the Insperity Championship, Friday, May 2, 2014, at The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course in The Woodlands.

Photo By Eric Christian Smith/For the Chronicle

Fred Couples follows his approach shot on No. 18 during the first round of the Insperity Championship, Friday, May 2, 2014, at The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course in The Woodlands. Couples finished his round three shots back of co-leaders Bernhard Langer and Bart Bryant.

Photo By Eric Christian Smith/For the Chronicle

Jeff Maggert acknowledges the gallery after getting up and down for par on No. 18 during the first round of the Insperity Championship, Friday, May 2, 2014, at The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course in The Woodlands. Maggert finished his round two shots behind co-leaders Bernhard Langer and Bart Bryant.

Photo By Eric Christian Smith/For the Chronicle

1987 Masters champion Larry Mize blasts from a green side bunker on No. 9 during the first round of the Insperity Championship, Friday, May 2, 2014, at The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course in The Woodlands.

Photo By Eric Christian Smith/For the Chronicle

Defending champion Esteban Toldeo acknowledges the gallery after making birdie on No. 9 during the first round of the Insperity Championship, Friday, May 2, 2014, at The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course in The Woodlands. Toledo finished one shot back of co-leaders Bernhard Langer and Bart Bryant.

Photo By Eric Christian Smith/For the Chronicle

First round co-leader Bernhard Langer, right, smiles as he walks the No. 18 green during the first round of the Insperity Championship, Friday, May 2, 2014, at The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course in The Woodlands.

Photo By Eric Christian Smith/For the Chronicle

Fred Funk throws his club after mishitting his approach shot on No. 18 during the first round of the Insperity Championship, Friday, May 2, 2014, at The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course in The Woodlands. Funk finished his round two shots behind co-leaders Bernhard Langer and Bart Bryant.

Photo By Eric Christian Smith/For the Chronicle

Joe Daley eyes his approach shot on No. 9 during the first round of the Insperity Championship, Friday, May 2, 2014, at The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course in The Woodlands. Daley finished his round two shots back of co-leaders Bernhard Langer and Bart Bryant.

Photo By Eric Christian Smith/For the Chronicle

Defending champion Esteban Toldeo follows through on his approach shot on No. 18 during the first round of the Insperity Championship, Friday, May 2, 2014, at The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course in The Woodlands. Toledo finished his round one shot back of co-leaders Bernhard Langer and Bart Bryant.

Photo By Eric Christian Smith/For the Chronicle

Fred Couples, right, waits to putt as playing partner Jeff Maggert taps in his putt on No. 9 during the first round of the Insperity Championship, Friday, May 2, 2014, at The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course in The Woodlands. Couples finished his round three shots back of co-leaders Bernhard Langer and Bart Bryant.

Photo By Eric Christian Smith/For the Chronicle

Steve Lowery blasts out of a green side bunker on No. 9 during the first round of the Insperity Championship, Friday, May 2, 2014, at The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course in The Woodlands. Lowery finished three shots back of co-leaders Bernhard Langer and Bart Bryant.

THE WOODLANDS - If you lived in Houston during the mid-1980s, you might have crossed paths with a jovial young Scotsman who drove "a wreck of a car" and went to The Summit to watch the Rockets play whenever he could scrape up some extra cash.

That care-worn Mazda TLC may have been perfectly forgettable, but Colin Montgomerie wouldn't be. The Houston Baptist University golfer paid the state of Texas an extra 10 bucks to buy license plates with "Monty" on them. That would suggest he already knew he was going places.

"People tend to forget I enjoyed my four years in America quite a bit," Montgomery said shortly after making another fond memory of the Houston area Saturday.

Chasing longtime rival

His 6-under 66, highlighted by a 40-foot eagle putt at 13, was the day's low round, leaving him as the field's most viable threat to Bernhard Langer, the 2014 Schwab Cup leader and a man he calls "my good friend," entering the final round of the Insperity Invitational at The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course.

Langer, a longtime rival on the PGA's European Tour and frequent Ryder Cup teammate, holds a three-shot lead on Montgomerie after carving out a 68 after a 66 on Friday. But Montgomerie has the German's undivided attention now. Langer admitted he would have to stay aggressive and go "under par, I would think," to keep Montgomerie at bay and win for the 20th time on the Champions Tour.

Montgomerie, in his first full season, is trying to get on the board.

"I'm sure he'll give it his best shot," Langer said.

Langer is second all-time in European Tour victories with 42 while Montgomerie ranks fourth with 31. They couldn't guess how often they have gone off in the final group on a Sunday, but Langer admitted it has happened "many times."

Stop at HBU

Montgomerie was long believed to have ended up at HBU by mistake, that he had really intended to enroll at the University of Houston, which was a national power in those days.

But Montgomerie refuted that story. He said he was made aware of the Baptist school by, ironically, a Catholic priest who had ties to NASA and was working with the Royal Air Force in Scotland.

A scratch golfer, the priest played at the same club as Montgomerie, then a member of the Scottish junior national team, and sold him on the school. Montgomerie showed up as a walk-on but won a spot on Dave Mannen's team, earning a scholarship for his final three seasons.

"I had four great years there and managed to graduate (in 1987)," he said. "It was a great learning experience, not just in the classroom but in life. It was the first time I had to budget and the first time I was in debt. I was playing against players better than I was. I had to learn how to improve, and the only way to do that was by practicing and playing hard. I came back from university ready to go and turned pro about three months after."

Because Montgomerie chose to play in Europe, where he won the season money title eight times, the Shell Houston Open was rarely a good fit in his schedule. Before this week, he had played competitively in Houston just once, 12 years ago, shooting even par over four rounds on this same course the final spring it hosted the SHO. But he said he flies in occasionally to work with Paul Marchand, the head pro at Shadow Hawk in Richmond.

Every time he visits, he said, "I go down to HBU to walk around the campus and see what's what."